Why does Athens get a pass when it comes to crime and poverty compared to other GA cities when stats are similar? (Columbus: high crime, home)

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by sedimenjerry

Yea I've known for awhile from this very forum that Athens has more crime than Oconee County. And it's not like there's a weekly thread dumping on other cities either.

But why Athens? If the OP really wanted to make an argument, he could look up the crime rates at two dozen more cities across the state with even HIGHER crime rates ... many of them rural.

[brentyoung12]

I'm sure it's more apparent to the locals, but in comparison to Georgia's other larger towns, not the rural ones, I rarely see Athens crime brought up. I dont see crimes involving UGA victims talked about nearly as much as crimes against GT students, and though very similar, it's not talked about in the same light as crime in Augusta, Columbus and definitely not Macon or Albany.

i.e. I never see people saying to avoid Athens because of crime like they say about Macon.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by brentyoung12

I'm sure it's more apparent to the locals, but in comparison to Georgia's other larger towns, not the rural ones, I rarely see Athens crime brought up. I dont see crimes involving UGA victims talked about nearly as much as crimes against GT students, and though very similar, it's not talked about in the same light as crime in Augusta, Columbus and definitely not Macon or Albany.

i.e. I never see people saying to avoid Athens because of crime like they say about Macon.

They don't say to avoid Savannah either ... or Augusta and Columbus for that matter. Sorry you live in Macon and got your feelings hurt.

[cwkimbro]

Yeah I find this perplexing.

In m not sure who is giving Athens a pass. I lived there for 7 years as a student and the issue was constantly brought up.

Athens as a city isn't near as successful of a city as others being compared to in the OP. Many do know it as a college city, which gives it a charm and character t many cherish. But I don't think it gets a pass on this issue. Most graduate and move on and it is an issue the raise often locally.

The region of Athens is nowhere near as large as Columbus, Augusta or Macon, which probably why you don't hear it brought up as often

[brentyoung12]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

They don't say to avoid Savannah either ... or Augusta and Columbus for that matter. Sorry you live in Macon and got your feelings hurt.

It's racism basically, but no one wants to talk about that. Macon's more black. Bibb with a similar crime rate as Musocgee and lower than Richmond but it's filled with "undesirables" (city-data code word)

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by brentyoung12

It's racism basically, but no one wants to talk about that. Macon's more black. Bibb with a similar crime rate as Musocgee and lower than Richmond but it's filled with "undesirables" (city-data code word)

Did you really just pull the race card?! Wow ...

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

Yeah I find this perplexing.

In m not sure who is giving Athens a pass. I lived there for 7 years as a student and the issue was constantly brought up.

Athens as a city isn't near as successful of a city as others being compared to in the OP. Many do know it as a college city, which gives it a charm and character t many cherish. But I don't think it gets a pass on this issue. Most graduate and move on and it is an issue the raise often locally.

The region of Athens is nowhere near as large as Columbus, Augusta or Macon, which probably why you don't hear it brought up as often

I think the wording "giving the city a pass" is inaccurate to a degree but I can see what the OP is getting at. Cities with above-average crime rates that also have other things that make it a draw fare better in terms of perception than cities with above-average crime with little else to offer.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I think the wording "giving the city a pass" is inaccurate to a degree but I can see what the OP is getting at. Cities with above-average crime rates that also have other things that make it a draw fare better in terms of perception than cities with above-average crime with little else to offer.

I still don't see it. When I lived there the issue was brought up constantly. Because the size of the out was so small it actually had an often cited stat that made it have one if the highest poverty rates by county.

Athens is not a very successful city beyond the college and college town amenities, sadly. As a metro/region it's smaller that what it's being compared to.

If it has a better perception, it is from the college/college town, but not from might as a city.It hasn't had bear the success of Augusta or Columbus. It doesn't quite have the historic charm Savannah is known for that gives it a a very positive perception.

To be frank, what made it so great was it was so low-demand and cheap college students could afford a great life there.

I think this is misplaced insecurities.

Given the other discussion playing out, I think the heart if the problem is an insecurity with Macon and not really comparison of Athens to all of the different cities.

The real problem Macon has is Warner Robbins was just far enough away it grew more like a close by neighboring city and less like a part if Macon, even if just a suburb

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

I still don't see it. When I lived there the issue was brought up constantly. Because the size of the out was so small it actually had an often cited stat that made it have one if the highest poverty rates by county.

Athens is not a very successful city beyond the college and college town amenities, sadly. As a metro/region it's smaller that what it's being compared to.

If it has a better perception, it is from the college/college town, but not from might as a city.It hasn't had bear the success of Augusta or Columbus. It doesn't quite have the historic charm Savannah is known for that gives it a a very positive perception.

To be frank, what made it so great was it was so low-demand and cheap college students could afford a great life there.

I think this is misplaced insecurities.

Given the other discussion playing out, I think the heart if the problem is an insecurity with Macon and not really comparison of Athens to all of the different cities.

The real problem Macon has is Warner Robbins was just far enough away it grew more like a close by neighboring city and less like a part if Macon, even if just a suburb

I don't doubt that internally, crime is a major point of discussion by residents of the city. But externally, it is UGA that gives it an identity and so that's what mainly frames the perception of the city. It's not much different from crime in, say, Savannah or Charleston. People on the outside are somewhat willing to overlook that to a degree because of what those cities offer.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I don't doubt that internally, crime is a major point of discussion by residents of the city. But externally, it is UGA that gives it an identity and so that's what mainly frames the perception of the city. It's not much different from crime in, say, Savannah or Charleston. People on the outside are somewhat willing to overlook that to a degree because of what those cities offer.

But are you trying to say the perception of Athens overall it better than that of Savannah, Charleston, Columbus, Augusta, etc.... ?

I see them as historic and/or more economical successful cities functioning in their own right.

Athens really grew up round the college, less that of a metropolitan on its way to a half million or more